Karate is a Japanese word comprised of the two words, “kara’ meaning “empty” and “te” meaning “hand”, thus translated as empty hand. Traditional Karate is the Way of the Empty Hand.
Okinawa is widely considered the crucible of modern karate. It is the largest island between China and Japan, where Chinese trading ships would stop en route to the ports of Japan. The ancient arts spread to Okinawa this way. Over generations the people of the island further developed what we recognize today as karate. This history of karate is a huge source of cultural pride among the Okinawa People. So much so, some Karate Masters on the island have been formally recognized as National Treasures.
Our particular line of karate is called Shohei-Ryu …Ryu meaning “way” or “style”. It is a system evolved from the more familiar Uechi Ryu system, brought to the island from China by Kanbun Uechi at the turn of the last century. Okinawa’s current Uechi-Ryu and Shohei-Ryu practitioners were personally trained under Master Kanbun Uechi’s son Kanei Uechi.
Master Kanbun Uechi
1877 -1948
IOK’s senior students began studying Uechi-Ryu karate here in the States, and carry great respect for Master Uechi and the contributions of his family and students. In 1995, an association of Kanei Uechi’s top students adopted a new name for their karate. IOK’s instructors and students are now known as Shohei-Ryu, although many still matter of refer to our lineage as Uechi. Almost all of the historical material remains in the system …knowledge should never be lost. Additional teaching now comes to us as well, from the Shohei-Ryu organization of allegiance in Okinawa, the Okiukai (Okinawa Karate-Do Association).
IOK’s lineage is uniquely steeped in history and tradition. Its teachers are direct benefactors of fighting art knowledge that is hundreds, if not thousands of years old. The result …IOK is a traditional Okinawan dojo, very close to what one would experience on the small island where it originated. As a student advances in the art he/she will work to develop a very strong background in the traditional fundamentals.
In addition, there is a stated intention not to ignore valuable, helpful, knowledge from viable sources. IOK instructors are both many and experienced. We are products of the modern martial arts community, giving students the opportunity to cross train with important elements of jujitsu, aikido, boxing, and others. The underlying art is always our base, but what works in practice is at the forefront of the personal training all students receive.
The path of karate is self-discovery, harmonizing mind, body and spirit of the student. A primary aim is to develop the skills and confidence to protect and defend ones self. Development of personal qualities such as integrity, wisdom, compassion and humility is a substantial by product of karate.
“To subdue the enemy without fighting is the highest skill.”
“The ultimate aim of karate lies no in victory or defeat, but in the perfection of the character of its participants.”
…Ginchin Funakoshi, father of modern karate.
